North Alabama vs Northwestern State: Softball Program Comparison
Two D1 programs. Northwestern State lists $2,538 less in out-of-state tuition; North Alabama graduates 9 points more of its students.
Which one is right for you?
Neither school is better in the abstract — they are better for different athletes. These are the differences big enough to actually decide on.
Lean North Alabama if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: North Alabama graduates 9 percentage points more of its students than Northwestern State.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at North Alabama is $2,923 lower than at Northwestern State.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at North Alabama against none listed at Northwestern State.
Lean Northwestern State if…
- You would be in-state: Northwestern State is $3,126 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than North Alabama.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Northwestern State graduates earn about $1,606 more per year a decade after enrolling.
What it costs to go there
Published sticker price from IPEDS. Almost nobody pays it — athletic, academic and need-based aid all come off the top — but the gap between two schools is a fair read on the gap between two offers.
| Measure | North Alabama | Northwestern State |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $11,990 | $8,864 — Northwestern State leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $22,190 | $19,652 — Northwestern State leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition |
| Room & board | $7,900 — North Alabama leads on this measure: lower room & board | $10,617 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $19,890 | $19,481 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $30,090 | $30,269 |
What you leave with
Federal College Scorecard figures for all students at the institution, not softball players specifically. Read them as a signal about the degree, not about the program.
| Measure | North Alabama | Northwestern State |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 54% — North Alabama leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 45% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $45,415/yr | $47,021/yr — Northwestern State leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,077 — North Alabama leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $25,000 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 49% — North Alabama leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 53% |
Getting in, and what you'd walk into
Admissions and size. A coach can support your file, but at most schools they cannot admit you — the academic profile below is the bar you still have to clear.
| Measure | North Alabama | Northwestern State |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 87% | 93% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 10,059 | 8,847 |
| Where it is | Florence, AL | Natchitoches, LA |
The softball program itself
Division and conference set the ceiling; the postseason record and staff tell you what the program has actually done with it.
| Measure | North Alabama | Northwestern State |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | UAC | Southland |
| NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only. | None since 2021 | None since 2021 |
| Head coach | Ashley Cozart | Jason Anderson |
How you actually get in front of them
Camps and questionnaires are the two channels a recruit controls. Where a program runs its own camp, that camp is usually the shortest path to being evaluated by the staff that would recruit you.
| Measure | North Alabama | Northwestern State |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 1 listed (1 with dates) | — |
| Recruiting questionnaire | — | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | Yes | Yes |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NCAA Division I, so the scholarship rules are identical: up to 25 (2025 roster rules; traditionally 12). Full rides exist at the top programs, but most D1 softball players are on partial scholarships. Coaches historically split about 12 equivalencies across an entire roster, and even under the 2025 rules most programs fund well below the 25-scholarship maximum.
What to do about it this week
Questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules, so you can submit one at any age. A program's own camp is where its staff does most of its evaluating — submit the questionnaire first so they know to look for you.
North Alabama
Find the recruiting questionnaireWe do not hold a verified form link for this program — this opens a search.
Camps we track
- August Elite Camp 208/22/2026 · 7th Grade - 12th Grade · $120
Northwestern State
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
North Alabama vs Northwestern State: common questions
- Is North Alabama or Northwestern State cheaper?
- Published cost is effectively the same — about $30,090 a year out of state in tuition and housing at both, before any aid. Cost is unlikely to be what decides this one.
- Which school graduates more of its students, North Alabama or Northwestern State?
- North Alabama, at 54% against 45% at Northwestern State (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do North Alabama and Northwestern State offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NCAA Division I: up to 25 (2025 roster rules; traditionally 12). Full rides exist at the top programs, but most D1 softball players are on partial scholarships. Coaches historically split about 12 equivalencies across an entire roster, and even under the 2025 rules most programs fund well below the 25-scholarship maximum.
- Do North Alabama and Northwestern State run softball camps?
- We track 1 camp at North Alabama and none currently listed at Northwestern State. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at North Alabama and Northwestern State?
- Northwestern State runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For North Alabama, we do not hold a verified form link, so start from the program page and email the staff directly.
Cost, graduation and enrollment figures from IPEDS (U.S. Dept. of Education, 2023-24). Earnings, debt and admission rates from the federal College Scorecard. Postseason results from the NCAA Division I softball tournament records, 2021-2026. Rankings from NCAA.com and U.S. News & World Report. Figures describe the institution, not the softball roster.
We work hard to keep all data for North Alabama and Northwestern State accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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